Results 13,541-13,560 of 18,645 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Food Prices: Food Prices (27 Jan 2010)

Brendan Smith: The price paid to meat producers is a function of supply and demand, which has of course been influenced by the global economic downturn, exchange rates and other factors. My Department does not compile data on consumer prices across Europe. In relation to beef, officially recorded factory prices for R3 grade steer prices in 2009 averaged 287 cents per kilo liveweight. In 2007 and 2008 this...

Written Answers — Laboratory Testing: Laboratory Testing (27 Jan 2010)

Brendan Smith: The vast majority of the buildings of my Department's Laboratories, at Backweston are completely operational and functioning as intended. Amelioration works on some areas of the laboratories are required prior to they coming on stream. These are expected to be completed during 2010. As indicated in responses to Parliamentary Questions, the Irish multi-annual national control plan (MANCP)...

Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (27 Jan 2010)

Brendan Smith: The Minister for Health & Children has overall responsibility for the general food labelling legislation. Responsibility for the enforcement of this legislation rests with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (F.S.A.I.). This is done through service contracts with other relevant agencies, including the Health Service Executive, the Local Authority Veterinary Service and my Department. I am...

Written Answers — Food Safety Standards: Food Safety Standards (27 Jan 2010)

Brendan Smith: My Department in co-operation with Customs service monitors and operates animal and public health controls at EU approved Border Inspection Posts (BIP) on all direct imports into Ireland of products of animal origin coming from non-EU (or third) countries. Controls are also carried out on postal parcels and passenger baggage coming from third countries. EU rules stipulate that food products...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (27 Jan 2010)

Brendan Smith: Less than 0.2% of the agricultural land in Ireland is under non-food crops made up of oilseeds, miscanthus, willow and small quantities of wheat and oats used for energy purposes. A table details the areas sown since 2005 in hectares. Year Willow Miscanthus Oilseed rape Hemp & switch grass Total Hectares 2005 13 2,577 2,590 2006 67 122 4,267 4,456 2007 65 630 7,959 90 8,744 2008 127...

Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (27 Jan 2010)

Brendan Smith: Grant-aid was provided by my Department in regard to various investments in relation to agricultural pollution control by the Farm Waste Management Scheme which, under the revised version of the Scheme introduced in 2006, provided a standard grant-rate of 60 per cent (70 per cent in the four Zone C counties) for the construction of animal housing, slurry storage facilities and related items....

Written Answers — Food Security: Food Security (27 Jan 2010)

Brendan Smith: "Food Security" is a concept that traditionally refers to the lack of access to food in developing countries due to poverty. People in poverty in developing countries are unable to buy or grow sufficient food. People are food insecure when they do not have physical, social and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an...

Written Answers — Farm Household Incomes: Farm Household Incomes (27 Jan 2010)

Brendan Smith: All foodstuffs imported into Ireland are highly regulated and must meet minimum standards established in accordance with EU food safety and traceability regulations. The increasing concentration of retail power in the hands of a few large supermarket chains is an international phenomenon, which has fundamentally changed the balance of market negotiating power in the food chain. I have...

Written Answers — Alternative Farm Enterprises: Alternative Farm Enterprises (27 Jan 2010)

Brendan Smith: Part of the outcome of the CAP Health Check negotiations was the decision to abolish the compulsory set aside of tillage land, effective from the 2009 Scheme, thereby doing away with the complex management rules attached to it. I warmly welcomed the decision at the time, one of a number of changes introduced as part of the simplification process. Previously, agreement had been reached in...

Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (27 Jan 2010)

Brendan Smith: The €9.5 million provided in the 2010 Budget will be provided in the 2010 Revised Estimates and comprises €7 million to support a range of measures geared to improving the competitiveness of the food industry, which will be operated by Enterprise Ireland, and €2.5 million to support Bord Bia marketing initiatives.

Animal Identification Scheme. (27 Jan 2010)

Brendan Smith: The introduction of EID for sheep was agreed at EU level in late 2003. At that time, it was agreed to defer the implementation date until January 2008. The Council of Agriculture Ministers revisited this issue in December 2007 when it was agreed that the deadline for the compulsory introduction of EID should be set for 31 December 2009, six years after the original decision was taken. I...

Animal Identification Scheme. (27 Jan 2010)

Brendan Smith: In regard to Britain, Northern Ireland has not applied for the derogations we received and it is intended to implement the mandatory scheme, as it is outlined by the European Commission. I mentioned earlier - maybe nobody was listening, as Deputy Doyle said - that the Department-----

Animal Identification Scheme. (27 Jan 2010)

Brendan Smith: -----is involved in consultations with all the farm organisations and all stakeholders in regard to the practical implementation of the scheme. I have consistently outlined, at meetings of the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and in this House, that we totally opposed the mandatory introduction of the EID, that we had no support around the table of the Council of Ministers,...

Animal Identification Scheme. (27 Jan 2010)

Brendan Smith: There will be a requirement regarding the new numbering system. It will have a different number of characters. Some years ago the 13 digit sheep tag system was introduced. That will be incompatible, but there will be a period where there will be a crossover. The new 12 digit number will be introduced with the country code. A 12 digit code containing much of the elements of the whole...

Pigmeat Sector. (27 Jan 2010)

Brendan Smith: A total of 2,465 farmers are involved in pig production. Details of the number of farmers on a county by county basis are set out in the table. The pig sector accounts for approximately 6% of gross agricultural output. It is a significant employer both directly and indirectly, accounting for more than 7,000 jobs, many of which are in rural areas and small towns. The sector has the...

Pigmeat Sector. (27 Jan 2010)

Brendan Smith: I thank Deputy Crawford for his comments on the re-opening of the Russian market. We hope that will help to improve prices and grow the market. The Russian market available to our exporters is of substantial importance overall. Regarding young persons, as Deputy Crawford will be aware, some months ago I launched a Teagasc pig husbandry scheme in Ballyhaise agricultural college. The course...

Pigmeat Sector. (27 Jan 2010)

Brendan Smith: As the Deputy will be aware, some considerable time ago we put forward a proposal to the European Commission in respect of country of origin labelling for pigmeat, sheepmeat and poultrymeat. Unfortunately, the European Commission rejected our proposals and we were not allowed to proceed with them. Now the issue of adequate labelling is again under discussion in the Commission and we have...

Pigmeat Sector. (27 Jan 2010)

Brendan Smith: Regarding Deputy Crawford's point and speaking of individual producers and about the industry in general, there are now much better on-farm facilities for pig production. Some years ago the sow-housing scheme was introduced and has been very successful. The farm waste management scheme was made applicable to the pig industry for the first time. During the course of the coming year we will...

Written Answers — Fishing Industry Development: Fishing Industry Development (26 Jan 2010)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 546 and 558 together. At the moment there are no specific plans in place to allow a resumption of commercial fishing for sea bass. However, the Federation of Irish Fishermen (FIF) has made a proposal regarding the possibility of a limited offshore Sea Bass fishery to my colleague Minster Killeen. Minister Killeen is giving careful consideration to this...

Written Answers — Harbours and Piers: Harbours and Piers (26 Jan 2010)

Brendan Smith: Kerry County Council proposes to construct a new pier at Cromane. The proposed pier will be the property of that Local Authority who will be responsible for its development, maintenance and repair. Under the Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme my Department has, in previous years, allocated funding to Kerry County Council to progress works at Cromane. This...